Vol4 NoS
Reg Harris: an Appreciation
An Appreciation of Reg Harris Dr Meryman (a Washington Naval Physicist) who by Rosina Down described a method of drying entire biological samples in their natural shape and The death of Reg Harris FMA, Hon FLS, proportion without distortion. A subsequent M!Biol, founder member of BCG, has left meeting with Dr Roland Rower of the a gap that will be difficult if not Smithsonian Institute led to the technique impossible to fill. being developed simultaneously in the USA and the UK. Together with Edwards High Reg was born in 1920 over a jeweller's shop, Vacuum the highly successful Ef2 freeze-dryer of which his father was manager, on the was evolved, which is used all over the corner of Hampstead and Euston Road in world. The arrangement of spring flowers Central London. Interested in Natural buried in Westminster Abbey in 1977, as part History from an early age, he joined the of the Queen's Jubilee Year celebrations, staff of E. Gerrard, Royal College were freeze dried by Reg. Street, straight from school. He moved to the Wellcome Museum of Medical Science (just Work on other applications of freeze-drying over the road from his home) in 1936. The ·for stereoscan electron microscopy, marine war saw him in the Navy, in the Laboratory at archaeology (including the earliest ship's RNH Ilaslar, from 1939-1941, aboard HMS brush ever preserved), marine zooplankton and Colinwood from 1941-1943 as Sick Berth Petty geological applications together with Officer in the Sick Quarter Laboratory, and critical point drying followed. He was attaehed to the Royal Netherlands Navy on the deeply involved with the problems of ll
146 Technicians Course in the evenings at 1972 (with B.S. Martin and C.G. Ogden) Paddington Technical College for many years. Notes on the preparation for scanning electron microscopy. It was said of E Ray Lankester (a former Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool), 24. Professor of the UCL Zoology Department and 1976 Preparation techniques for biological Director of the BM(NH)) that "he influenced material. BCG Newsletter, 1 (2), 2-5. the whole course of Zoology in the British *1976 Freeze-drying of marine Zooplankton. Empire". I think the same could be said of IV Monograph on Oceanographic Methodology Reg Harris's influence on the course of "zooplankton fixation and preservation". practical biological techniques. UNESCO Press, Paris. 1978 Biodeterioration. Bibliography BCG Newsletter, 1 (8), 3-1~ 1979 Introduction to Freeze-drying 1950 (with H.C. Bartle) Marco resin Biological Specimens, a laboratory embedding. Bull. Sci. Tech. Ass., 1 (10). manual. R.O. Hower. Smithsonian *1951 The use of enzymes in the osteological Institution Press, Washington. preparation of the Emperor Penguin. 1979 The conservation of one of the earliest ~1us. Journ., 51, 97. known examples of a fluid preserved *1952 Demonstration of the supporting tissue injection dissection (of a Marine in the manus of the Indian Elephant by Coelentrate from the John Hunter the use of a specific stain. Collection). Mus. Journ., 79, 71-72. Mus. Journ., 52, 206. 1984 A Selective Bibliography on 1957 (with C.A. Wright and D. Clangher) Preservation, Macro and Micro Paper Chromatography in taxonomic work. anatomical Techniques. Nature, 180, 1489. BCG Special Report, 3. 1958 The extraction of bones from bird ' pellets. Essex Nat., 30 (2). * Original work - none previously carried out. 1959 Small vertebrate skeletons. Mus. Journ., 58, 223-224. Papers given at Seminars, etc. (thought not 1960 Alizarine transparencies. to have been published). Mus. Journ., 60, 99-101. *1964 Vacuum dehydration and freeze drying 1968 Conservation in the Natural Sciences. of entire biological specimens. City of Liverpool Museums Service Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 13, 7, 65-74. Symposium. 1964 Freeze drying - a Natural History 1974 Preservation techniques in the Natural Preservation Technique. Sciences - Modern Methods. Trans. Mus. Ass. Grp., 3 (Sept). 1975 Invertebrate preservation techniques *1965 Simple technique for the embedding in the small and medium museum. Norfolk and supporting of delicate biological Museums Service Symposium, Norwich. specimens. Nature, 208, 199. 1977 Course in Natural Sciences. Booth 1965 Vakuum - und Gefriertrocknung ganzer Museum of Natural History, Brighton. biologischer Objeckte. Der Praparator 1983 Freeze Drying - Miracle or Menace? Jahrgang II. Heft. 4. (translation of . AMS SEE Seminar at the Powell Cotton Vac. dehydration and freeze drying 1964). Museum. (review only published in 1967 Edited: Secrets of the Microscope, AMSSEE News, April 1984). Aliverti, Ciccioli and Laudi. (further note: AMSSEE had photocopies of notes detail not presently available) on invertebrate and plant material, and 1968 A new apparatus for freeze drying these may still be available. whole biological specimems. Med Biol. Ill., 17 (3). 1968 Edited: Life on Earth, Hamlyn 1968 Book review in Laboratory Practice, 17. Rosina Down 1969 Nature collecting, Hamlyn. (republished Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, 1972 by Grosset & Dunlop Inc in USA and University College, Canada) London WClE 6BT
MDA Museum Terminology Group Has anyone produced a thesaurus, standard list of terms, or internal conventions BCG have been approached by this recently relevant to any aspect of cataloguing established informal working party to assist biological specimens? Please could I see with the co-ordination and development of examples, as it seems a waste to re-invent museum terminology control initiatives. the wheel, or duplicate work currently in hand. In due course the group will turn its attention to terminology control specific to Please note that this applies to both MDA and particular disciplines and will be seeking non-MDA users. BCG would like to hear from assistance from specialist curatorial groups. you.
Initially, I shall attempt to collate ideas BCG Secretary and comments specific to the biological Derek Whiteley disciplines from members and forward these City Museum to the new group. Sheffield SlO 2TP
147 animal in this case, Major-General Sir Charles Reid, G.C.B. of H.M. 2nd Goorkahs Collections (Gurkhas), (Sirmoor Rifles), who distinguished himself and his regiment at the siege of Delhi in 1857. Vanishing herds - large mammals in museum collections? Some animals proved almost impossible to research, however, including a large mounted Many museums over the past decade or so have specimen of a Yak (Bos grunniens). The only destroyed their large mammals for various documentation we had relating to this animal reasons. The problems of storage, past was found in the accession register for neglect and the costs of cleaning and 1862/3, 'Capt. Edmund Smyth, Bengal; very restoration are often cited as being major fine specimen of the Yak; and male and factors. The modern museum philosophy of female Argali, from India', and a file card only displaying local material has also added which read 'Great Indian Yak E. Smyth'. This to the toll. Important historic material has limited information seemed hardly enough to been lost, and much more will be lost in the justify a great deal of expenditure on future, if care is not taken to research and cleaning and· restoration. The long-term document these irreplaceable specimens. future of the Yak, therefore, seemed to be in doubt. Several years ago I was asked, by the then director of Leeds City Museum, to make out a The full information relating to this animal case for the retention in the collections of did, however, turn up by sheer chance, over several large mammals held in one of our 120 years after its acquisition by the out-stores. The store, part of a large house museum. The author Charles Allen was in a park, was in need of renovation, and a researching a book on early explorers and full maintaining lease had been agreed with pioneers in the Himalayas, when he came the tenants who would take over the entire across a reference in a private diary to a house, as and when the stores could be Yak having been shot by Edmund Smyth and cleared. Robert Drummond which was subsequently presented to Leeds Museum. His interest in The museum's collection of large animals had the preservation of the Yak in the Leeds been acquired over its 160-odd years of Museum was limited mainly to curiosity, as existence. Some specimens, such as the Giant the presence or absence of the animal made Panda and the magnificent Bengal Tiger, had little difference to his book. We were always been on display to the public, but fortunate, therefore, to receive a letter others such as the Polar Bear, Hippopotamus, from him asking if the animal was indeed Wild Boar and the American Bison had not been given to the museum. With Charles Alien's on display for many years. The collection help we were thus able fully to document the had been examined, without my knowledge, and animal. The following details give a short the subsequent report stated that the mammals account of the information we uncovered. could no longer be used for display, and therefore should be disposed of, or Capt. Edmund Smyth (1823-1911) immortalised destroyed. The documentation relating to as Crab Jones in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays', these large specimens proved almost was the first European to go mountaineering non-existent. At best, all we had in the way in the Himalayas. A pioneer of hunting and of information was the donor's name, in some mountaineering trips into the Garhwal cases even this was unavailable without Himalayas over 20 years, he made many such considerable research. Fortunately, I was journeys into that region, as well as into able to justify the retention of the animals Tibet, and in 1862 he led a party to the through our involvement with the World sources of the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra. Capt. Wildlife Fund who regularly borrowed them for Smyth was considered to be something of an promotional displays. eccentric who nevered bothered to publicise any of his activities, and as a result much This justification exercise, although of his life's work was ignored. The Yak unpleasant at the time, did highlight the itself is referred to in Maj. Gen. D. lack of good documentation. Without the aid Macintyre's book 'Hindu Koh: Wanderings and of the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund, it would have been very difficult to persuade the Director to retain the animals. Over the last few years, therefore, I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to bring the documentation up to an acceptable standard, so as to avoid this problem in the future. I also realised that I would not be able to justify any expenditure from our limited resources for the much-needed cleaning and repair of the animals without this documentation. Many of the animals, such as the Hippopotamus, Gorilla and Giant Panda proved fairly easy to research with the help of the Zoological Society of London. In some cases, the Tiger for example, my research led to the person who shot the
148 Wild Sports on and beyond the Himalayas', skilled .. cataloguer, '.1rs Clare McWilliam, on a published in 1889. The Yak would seem to be voluntary basis. Catalogue cards were made the first wild Yak to have been brought into at first by the main University Library Europe, and it is now understandable why no Cataloguing Department, using an old details of its place of origin were given. mechanical duplicating machine, and a set Capt. Smyth was employed by the government as sent to our herbarium library, as well as one an Education Officer, and his friend and for the main University Library catalogue. fellow hunter was another government officer, The Hon. Robert Drummond, a younger son of This system failed when the machine broke the Eighth Viscount Strathallan. The hunting down and increased pressure on a reduced expeditions undertaken by Smyth and Drummond staff prevented further collaboration, the were in direct defiance of a government ban University library now using its own computer on entering ·Tibet. It was particularly system. Some cards were then typed onto important to Robert Drummond that these index cards by our own departmental illicit trips into Tibet were kept a secret secretary, but this was a particularly as his elder brother happened to be the tedious and repetitive job, and progress was Lieutenant-Governor of the newly-formed lamentably slow. It seemed the job was one North-Western Province. The Yak which came which could be assisted by the use of a to Leeds was shot on the shores of the sacred microcomputer and an investigation was lake of Manasarover in Tibet in 1860, carried out into the feasibility of this with violating not only British and Indian laws the help of Mr G P Ibbett, an undergraduate· but also the Tibetian religion in one of its in the Department of Computer Science. A most sacred shrines. It is little wonder program was written by him, subsequently that their activities did not emerge for many ·modified by one of us (DJF), to produce years. catalogue cards on our Sirius* microcomputer.
This information on Edmund Smyth, and his Requirements hunting trips to Tibet, could not have been traced through normal sources as Smyth Often a book has more than one author, and himself never wrote an account of his two, three or even more cards are required activities. Without the chance find of the for these 'additional authors' for the author reference in Drummond's diaries none of this catalogue. Often they are produced by information might ever have come to light. duplicating a standard card and typing the additional author's name along the top as a It proved to me once again that it is never heading. Similarly the title, series, safe to assume that a specimen has no data periodical Cas appropriate) and subjects can and, therefore, can be disposed of. It is also be added as headings for title, series, only safe to dispose of material when it is periodical and subject catalogues. Our fully documented, and the documentation is of library also uses a second title card for a limited value or the specimen is of no use. shelf index, used when checking and ordering The Yak, along with the Tiger, Bison and the library; other libraries use another Giant Panda has now been fully restored and first author card. All cards need the same placed on permanent display at the Leeds City basic information: location in library, Museum. author(s), title, imprint, collation, series/ periodical and notes (e.g. "Bequest of ••• ", Adrian Norris, Leeds City Museum "p. 6-10 missing", "Copy annotated by ••• ", "Preface by ••• ", "Illustrations by ••• ", etc). It is also necessary to add 'tracings' on the back of the shelf card Cor another as Microcomputer help with library cataloguing decided for the library) to indicate the cards used for each book in the catalogue. Abstract Should the book be removed from the library all the cards can then be removed from the A system using a Sirius microcomputer to various drawers in the catalogue. produce index cards for easier book cataloguing is described. This has proved to The herbarium data processing room has a be of considerable help in our herbarium Sirius microcomputer with a daisy-wheel library which as a result has become more printer, relatively slow, but producing good accessible by our students and staff. quality copy, ideal for the implementing of such a system. Introduction It was decided that data would not be stored, Some years ago our herbarium library was so after printing out the memory is presented with a valuable collection of automatically cleared. The system required botanical books by the executors of Norman was simply catalogue card production. Our Douglas Simpson (1890-197 4), late of microcomputer has numerous other herbarium Bournemouth. Many of the books were old, jobs to perform (specimen label production, rare and of considerable value to seed allocation and dispatch from our annual systematists, and it was of importance to Index Seminum, for example) and therefore catalogue the collection professionally Cas would not always be available for immediate well as the rest of the fast growing access to library users for book catalogue library). Information on pre 1800 books was use, a requisite of all library catalogues. required for the British Library's Short Title Catalogue. We were extremely fortunate *SIRIUS is a trademark of Sirius Systems in gaining the part-time services of a highly Technology, Inc.
149 CARD INDEX DATA
LOCATION 1 Herbafit.AM ( 15) LOCATION 2 5~1. 0/'2-.., ( 15)
NAME 1 H~Ywoo:z:>, v. H. (25) NAME 2 M oc~e: , :z,. M. ( 25) NAME 3 - (25) NAME 4 --- ( 25) TITLE 1 Curr~ ,..._...... ,rJJJ>f<, ...... J. ~ -fa~~. (55) TITLE 2 V (55) IMPRINT ---Lor\~: Ac4~ fNv.J.-o .;...u.. (La ncJe,.....) Lh:l. 118 If.,( 55) COLLATION 'I, vi 1+3:2. ::p. (55) SERIAL 1 Tk ~r~ics a:....oUo....b.;.... $:~V~ IV~. 2$_. (55) SERIAL 2 (55) NOTE 1 P~e.J- ~ f'f'r{.t-..r V. H· H•· (55) NOTE 2 - V (55) NOTE 3 - (55) SPECIAL ENTRY 1 /i1.xoNoMY - fla...r.ts (55), SPECIAL ENTRY 2 PH'!roel EOG !"? APH'Y .. (55) SPECIAL ENTRY 3 f' HiloCH6fvlt s-rf<.. Y (55) SPECIAL ENTRY 4 DA-1?t 6ASeS '' (55) SPECIAL ENTRY 5 (55) SPECIAL ENTRY 6 - (·55) ADDED AUTHOR ENTRY 1--- 11u. ~~-~·bs _tf;s-scr-c:.i~~. (ss) ADDED AUTHOR ENTRY 2 --- (55) Figure 1 A completed input form Operation Her~riun G P Ibbett wrote a program to accommodate 581.012 these requirements and an appropriate input Current roncepts in plant taxoncrny. form (Figure 1) was designed. Location 1 HEThiXlD, V, H. and M:XlRE, D. M. usually contains the room and Location 2 the Dewey Decimal or shelf number in the case of Current concepts in plant t.axoncrny. valuable books locked away. Title 2, Serial I..cndon: Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., 1984. 2, Notes 2 and 3 are overflow lines for Title xvi, 432p. 1, Serial 1, Note 1 respectively. Numbers The Systenatics Ass=iation Specfal Voll>Tle No. 25.
refer to the number of characters and spaces Presented by Professor V. H. He~. available for each field.
On completion of input, a strip of thin . 'two-sheet' white card (127mm x 600mm) is Herbarium placed in the printer and the cards Cl27mm x 581.012 76mm = 3" x 5") produced, together with Current roncepts in Plant taxoncmy. cut-up marks. After printing of the cards is HEYMXlD, V. H. and M:XlRE, D. M. complete, the strip is removed, turned round and on depressing the 'return' key on the current concepts in plant taxoncmy. computer the tracings are printed on the back I..cndon: Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., 1984. of the first card. xvi, 432p. The Systematics Association Special Volure No. 25.
The original program has now been modified by Presented by Professor V. H. H~. one of us (DJF) to allow easier editing of data, repeat input of the individual fields (several books may have the same author or Herba.rium imprint, etc) and repeat printing of the 581.012 cards for other catalogues or duplicate HEYMXJD, V. H.
copies of the book in different locations. HEThiXlD, V. H. and M:XJRE, D. M. Underlining is possible. Certain key words such as "Herbarium", "Reprint" for the Current concepts in plant t.axoncrny. location have been added to the program and I..cndon: Academic Press Inc. (I..cndon) Ltd., 1984. can be produced by the use of soft-function xvi, 432p. keys, saving again on input. An example of The Systematics Associaticn Special Volt.Ire No. 25. output is shown in figure 2. Presented by Professor V. H. Hey. The program was written in 'BASIC86' and has HerOOrium been compiled for use with the 'MS-DOS'* 581.012 operating system but can also be used with f'IXJRE, D. M. the 'CPM'** system. The possibility of HEThiXlD, V. H. and f'IXJRE, IJ, M. selling the program on Sirius double sided diskettes, or even as printout, which could Current concepts in plant taxoncrny. be modified to run on other machines, is London: Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., 1984. being investigated. xvi, 432p. The Systematics Association sr::ecial Volune No. 25. * MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Presented by Professor V. H. Hey.<:x:Xl. Microsoft Corporation ** CP I M is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc. Figure 2 Example of output 150 I l ""'"'"------Herbarium ENTRIES 581.012 The Systerna.tics Association Special Volune No. 25. Current ooncepts in plant taxorx::my. HEYW::DD, V, H. HEYWXJD, V. H. and M:XJRE, D. M. fillRE, D. M. Current ooncepts in plant taxoncrny. The Systematics Association. London: Acadenic Press Inc. (Lcndon) Ltd., 1984. The Systematics Association Special Volure No. 25, xvi, 432p. TAXQD.IY - Plants Presented by Professor V. H. He~. PHY'I'03EXX>RI\PHY PHY'KX:Hl'MISTRY DATA 8/\SES SL Jury and DJ Farmer Dept of Botany Herbarium 581.012 University of Reading TA.XC.NCMY - Plants PO Box 221 HE'fuCOD, V. H. and M:XJRE, D. M. Reading RG6 2AS Current =ncepts in plant taxorx:rny. I London: Acadenic Press Inc. (I..cnclon) Ltd., 1984. xvi, 432p. The Systemtics Ass Presented by Professor V. H. He~. the various taxa described by him or by other entomologists from his collection. The most remarkable aspect of this collection is the perfect setting and condition of each insect. This, combined with the extensive Her'barium 581.012 coverage for Western Europe, makes it a resource of high quality. Glasgow's offer for the collection was accepted in the face HE'fuCOD, V. H. and M:XJRE, D. M. of competition from the Smithsonian current concepts in plant taxoocmy. Institution, Washington, DC, USA. Lcndon: Acadenic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., 1984. xvi. 432p. The collection divides itself into four The SysteiT"atics Association Special Volure No. 25. identifiable sections. Firstly, there is a Presented by Professor V. H. He)"\'XXXl. forty drawer cabinet and twelve store boxes of mainly tropical Lepidoptera. These have their origin in Manley's f'ather's days in the army and the genesis of his interest in Herl:::e.rium collecting can be traced to seeing the 581.012 specimens sent back from Sierra Leone in 1904 DATA 8/\SES (in litt: Margherita Manley to Glasgow HEYI=D, V. H. and M:XJRE, D. M. Museum, 19 August 1986). The second part forms the bulk of the collection in twenty Current ooncepts in plant tax~. one ten drawer Hill's cabinets and thirty-six London: Academic Press Inc. (Lcndon) Ltd., 1984. store boxes being the western palaearctic xvi, 432p. The Systena.tics Association Special Volune No, 25. Rhopalocera plus Zygaenidae. The third section in eight Hill's cabinets and nine Presented by Professor V. H. H€)'\'oO:Xl. store boxes is of British moths. These are restricted to mainly British specimens of Herb3rium macro moths and pyralid and tortricoid 581.012 micros. These last named are particularly The Systena.tics Asscx:::iation, developed into the last section, the HEYWXJD, V. H. and fillRE, D. M. varieties of Acleris cristana and A hastiana Current o:mcepts in plant taxoncmy. occupying two Hill's units and three store hoxes. It includes the specimens referred to London: Acadenic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., 1984. xvi, 432p. in his paper on the subject (Manley, 1973). The Systematics Assa::iation Special Volure No. 25. It is a fine collection and with few Presented. by Professor V. H. Hey....cx:::d. exceptions contains the entirety of one man's ..______------effort, with the assistance of members of his family. The purchase was a major proportion Figure 2 (contd) of the museum's budget for such purposes and 151 was assisted in part by a grant from the BM(NH) Charging Policy - Members' Local Museums Purchase Fund. Its acquisition Referendum makes the museum a significant resource for the study of european butterflies. Those Towards the end of 1986, the BCG Committee wishing to study it should make contact with discussed the problem of charging for the Keeper of Natural History prior to a services, bench space, enquiries and entrance visit. to the British Museum (Natural History). After a long debate the Committee felt that Geoff Hancock BCG should oppose all charges for bench Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery space, services, enquiries and consultation Kelvin grove of collections. Glasgow G3 BAG However, after further discussion, and a vote References carried by a majority of one, it was agreed that charging for entrance to the BM(NH) was Manley, WBL and Allcard, H (1970) a matter of personal opinion, and beyond the A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BUTTERFLIES AND remit of Committee. At the same time we BURNETS OF SPAIN. 192pp, 41 plates. agreed to support Penny Wheatcroft's . IPCS EW Classey: Hampton, Middlesex. Union initiative by enclosing a letter and Manley, WBL (1973) A Guide to Acleris petition "deploring the decision to introduce cristana (D&S) (Lep: Tortricidae) in admission charges to the British Museum Britain. ENT. GAZETTE, 24; 89-206. (Natural History)" in our Newsletter. Tremewan, WG (1986) WBL Manley (obituary) ANTENNA, 10; 68-69. The subject was again discussed at our Sheffield AGM in April 1987, resulting in a proposal by Dave Mellor (seconded by Sue Cross) that "the Committee take steps to Fish conservation canvass the opinion of the membership and to seek a mandate" with respect to BCG's The Fish Specialist Group of the Species involvement and further action over the Survival Commission (of the International BM(NH)'s policy for charging entrance to the Union for the Conservation of Nature) is museum. The motion was carried by a majority currently preparing a policy document vote of about 75 members present at the AGM. entitled 'Fish Conservation: a Worldwide Strategy'. Any BCG members with an interest In line with the AGM directive, a ballot of in this area and who would like to receive or members has been organised; a ballot slip is contribute information or be involved in enclosed with this Newsletter, and members particular conservation projects should are urged to make their feelings known by mid contact: January for discussion by Committee at their meeting on February 1st 1988. Dr P S Maitland Chairman, Fish Specialist Group A vote against the BM(NH) policy will result IUCN, SSC in further action by your Committee. A vote cl o Sloy Power Station in favour of the policy will result in the Inverglas, Arrochar G83 7DP item being effectively removed from the Scotland Committee agenda. For further background reading see BCG Newsletter vol 4 (5) and the IPCS enclosure in that issue (copies available AGM 88 by request). Derek Whiteley Secretary Bolton Civic Ball, 15 & 16 April 1988 The 1988 AGM meeting at Bolton will have two themes: non-chemical methods of pest control and computer applications in Request for material museums. It has not proved feasible to put together a full meeting on non-chemical pest The Department of Zoology, University of control, so computer applications has been Tasmania, Hobart would like on long loan included to keep members informed of (or preferably gift) a mounted specimen of developments in that field at Liverpool Thylacine or any good skeleton or skin, if Museum, and to have desk top publishing anyone has such a treasure they wish to part methods reviewed and demonstrated. The full with! Contact Professor DM Stoddart at programme will appear in the next Newsletter. Hobart or Rosina Down, Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, Biology Dept, The AGM will be held at 4pm on Friday 15 (Medawar Building) University College, April; full notification and agenda in the Gower Street, London WCl E6BT. next Newsletter. 152 The October issue of World Wildlife Fund News informs us that the United Arab Emirates, the main market for rhino horn, is Letters due to withdraw from CITES in January 1988, at a time when the convention are increasing Changes at the Association of Systematics their efforts to stop the illegal trade in Collections, USA ivory and rhino horn. Dear Dr Mathias, Simon J Knell Keeper of Natural Sciences This letter is to introduce myself as office Borough Museum and Art Gallery manager of the Association of Systematics Oswald Road Collections, as well as to bring you up to Scunthorpe date regarding some information mentioned in South Humberside Biology Curators' Group "Newsletter", Vol. 4, DN15 7BD No.6. The letter Simon sent was from Arthur On October 1st, 1986, the ASC relocated to Manning Ltd, Importers and Exporters of Washington, D. C., and subsequently there has Animal By-Products, Twickenham, Middlesex been a turnover in staff. Dr Step hen R. and dated 26 September 1958. Edwards, past Executive Director, is now Executive Officer of the Species Survival 'We have recently purchased from other Commission of IUCN in Gland, Switzerland. Museums Rhinoceras Horns, surplus to their The position of Executive Director has been requirements, .and we wonder whether you have filled by Dr J. Elaine Hoagland, formerly of any which you would care to dispose of. For Lehigh University, where she held the Horns in fair condition, we are ready to pay position of Senior Research Scientist. Dr 20/ -d. per lb. Richard Schrock, formerly Assistant Director Awaiting your further news, of ASC, has taken a position at Emporia State University in Kansas. His position has been Yours faithfully, filled by Dr Lincoln Fairchild, formerly Director of the Bohrer bioacoustics Arth ur Manning Laboratory at the Ohio State University. Myself, Briece R. Edwards, was formerly at the University of Kansas. The following letter has been circulated by the police investigating the theft of British The price of the CITES Identification Butterflies and Moths from Bristol Museum. Manual has been increased to $275.00 US, due Anne Hollowell, Curator of Natural History at to the state of the dollar on the Bristol, has asked that any response by BCG international market, as well as an increase members be made initially to her at the in postage. If these changes (address, Museum, and by letter not telephone. personnel, and cost of the CITES Manual) could be noted in your next Newsletter it Dear Sir, would be greated appreciated. We are currently investigating the theft of a Sincerely yours large number of British Butterflies and Moths from the Bristol City Museum between 1983 Briece R. Edwards ·and 1986. Office Manager 730 11th Street, N.W. Most of the Butterflies and Moths are from ·Third Floor the collections of BARTLETT, CONEY, Washington DC 20001 LODGE, BLATCHFORD and NORGROVE USA and all have data labels bearing the location and date taken, along with the name of the collector. These are either hand-written or typed. Dear John If you have been offered or sold any The attached letter was found recently during specimens of British Butterflies or Moths, file sorting. It is particularly interesting especially of species which are now extinct, now because of growing concern over the fate or of a rare or collectable nature, or of any of the Black Rhino which is threatened with unusual aberration or have any other extinction in the wild as a result of information regarding the theft of the poaching. The price then offered for the Butterflies and Moths, please contact me on horn was £1 per pound which compares with a the following telephone number. present black market value of something like £.15,000 for a good specimen- much greater Yours faithfully, than ivory (Black Rhino - the Last Stand, Channel 4, 7.15pm, 25 October 1987). M Lewis It is worth considering this value, and that Detective Constable 525 of other marketable rarities, when assessing Criminal Investigation Department security and insurance needs - theft of rhino Avon and Somerset Constabulary horn from a British museum is likely to Central Police Station result only in a fine - in Zimbabwe poachers Nelson Street face possible death. Bristol 1 Tel: (0272) 277777 ext 7161 153 Obviously keeping tabs on 1, 400 addreses has led to come error but this seems minimal and with a possible new edition in 1988 I think Book Reviews £.16 split over two years for several hundred useful addresses is good value and a bargain if your concern is natural history plus DIRECTORY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: archaeology and geology. ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND 1986-7 Lawrence Way by Michael J. C o Barker 2nd Edition 1986. Published by Routledge and BREEDING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS - Kegan Paul. £.15.95. ISBN 0-7102-0961-4. A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR BRITISH AND pp.227. EUROPEAN SPECIES This directory contains addresses and details by Ekkel:lard Friedrich. Translated into of 1, 400 organisations "that are involved in English by Steven Whitebread. activities that relate in -some way to the English edition edited and enlarged by natural, physical or human environment" A Maitland Em met. ranging from those with an international function to those with 'city wide' concern. 25 x 20cm 176pp with 47 text figures. Though Michael Barker has brought together in Harley Books, Martins, Great Horkesley, one book Pagans against Nukes, The Colchester, Essex C06 4AH. Association of Designer Leather Workers, Price: paperback £.9.95, hardba,ck £.20.00. MAFF, and the Swan Rescue Service, the number of wildlife, conservation and governmental The rearing of butterflies and moths is organisations presented will make this a becdming an increasingly popular pastime. handy aid for curators. Once the preserve of the ardent collector in search of the perfect insect for his cabinet, can see three potential uses for this book it is now practised more widely by in museum natural history. Firstly I find a naturalists and conservationists as a means proportion of public enquiries fall outside of learning more about the biology of species my experience and the museum's facilities, or purely for pleasure. and could well be referred to a more appropriate authority. The directory The vast amount of information available on provides a wealth of handy looking the subject is widely scattered in the organisations dealing with all aspects of literature and so not readily available. pollution, animal welfare, animal rights, This volume draws together a wealth of sick and injured animals, domestic stock and practical hints and useful information which rare breeds. will be of value to both the beginner and the experienced entomologist. Secondly, rather in the manner of the DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY the Originally written in German, the book reads information provided for each organisation is well unlike many translations. Part 1 deals sufficient to give an outline of its with the basic principles involved in function. The Directory can be used to gain breeding butterflies and moths, the various concise insights of 'new' organisations as techniques most likely to result in success they are encountered in the course of day to and the equipment that will be required. day work. Part 2 treats each species or species group in turn under the headings, 'Mating, The entry for an organisation details pairing', 'Oviposition', 'Rearing of address, phone number, contact name, aims, larvae', 'Overwintering', 'Pupating' and activities, status (voluntary, statutory, 'Food plants'. A more general but substantial charitable), and publications. For example chapter on the rearing of Microlepidoptera found the Directory useful in pinpointing has been written by A Maitland Emmet and the where in DoE, MAFF and the Scottish Office section covering the Geometridae has been responsibility is taken for Wildlife and considerably expanded by J Reid. A useful Conservation. A useful checklist for account on artificial diets has been supplied periodicals and their originators is given. by BOC Gardener. Finally if you haven't already got the NCC or This book should be used in conjunction with RSPB headquarters phone number in your a standard text as information on foodplants address book the Directory is as handy a is at best brief or else has a decidely place to keep such routine addresses as the European flavour. This detracts little from card file with the missing cards •••• o •• the usefulness of the publication which should prove invaluable to curators so often ·All County Trusts for Nature Conservation, presented with larvae of rare species, such Urban Wildlife Groups and even the odd Badger as the Death's-head Hawk, and having little Group have found a place in the Directory; idea how to rear them. but not one museum or records centre. The author gives a means of rectifying omissions Howard Mendel and I suggest BCG should seek inclusion. Ipswich Museums and Galleries 154 THE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES OF GREAT certain this will be the definitive work on BRITAIN AND IRELAND Lepidoptera for many years to come. However, I do not think even in this paperback by J. Heath and A.M. Emmet edition, it is for the private library of any except the most dedicated, and exceptionally Published by Harley Books, the paperback well off. edition (September 1986), volumes 1, 9 and 10. Price £24.95 per volume. Simon Davey Hampshire County Museum Service In the 1960s, there was a very great need for a comprehensive work on Lepidoptera. For many years most lepidopterists turned to BIOLOGICAL RECORDING IN A CHANGING Richard South. In the early 1960s, a new LANDSCAPE edition became available using new plates which were thought by most to be inferior to edited by P. T. Harding and D. A. Roberts the older ones. Bernard Skinner's recent, and excellent book on British Moths, coupled Published by the National Federation for with Higgins and Riley's book on European Biological Recording, 1986. Butterflies, fulfil the identification needs of most lepidopterists who study the 'macros'. Available from Museum Documentation Association, Building 0, 347 Cherry Hinton THE MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES OF GREAT Road, Cambridge CB1 4DH. BRITAIN AND IRELAND is a series for the specialist, and the student of Price £.6.00 (£.4.50 NFBR members) plus p&p. microlepidoptera. The drawings of genitalia, venation, scent glands, etc., are excellent, The inaugural conference of the National clear and easy to use. Until now, there has Federation for Biological Recording (NFB R) been no comprehensive reference work for the took place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, identification of all microlepidoptera and on the 15th and 16th of April 1986. This the critical macrolepidoptera, and, when booklet, the proceedings of that conference, finished, this work should fulfil this need. is a collection of four seminar papers and ten workshop reports covering wide-ranging As a reference book dealing with the subject topics highly relevant to anyone involved in in depth, it is good to see the sections on biological recording. The editors are to be parasites, diseases, conservation, collecting congratulated for producing the booklet the and preserving techniques, habitats, same year that the conference was held a migration, etc. The distribution maps are rare feat these days. also very useful and although a ten kilometre square cover for the microlepidoptera is not "The need for biological recording now" available, presence or absence by vice county (Dr. F.H. Perring), the "Botanical Society is certainly the next best thing. It is also of the British Isles monitoring scheme" good to see proper identification keys. The (R.G. Ellis), "An ecological data unit" colour illustrations are absolutely (G. L. Radford) and "Survey and monitoring in excellent, and of the standard one has come the Nature Conservancy Council" (Dr. R.J. to expect in recent years. It is a pity that Keymer) are the seminar paper titles. the printing is not always all it might be; Workshop reports include: "Priority taxa", the Sphingidae plates in volume 9 are "Created habitats", "Hidden data", "Handbook particularly poor. The bibliography and for biological recording", Habitat references, placed conveniently at the end of classification" and "Consultancy work". each section, are exhaustive and extremely In all a wealth of information. useful. My only criticism is the price which seems There is no doubt that, when complete, this excessive for a 60 page booklet with a soft work will be the greatest contribution to the card cover. study of Lepidoptera for many years. Howard Mendel However, at £.24.95 a volume, I am at a loss Ipswich Museums to know who the paperback edition is aimed at. Libraries and learned institutions will surely have purchased hard back copies of the volumes available aready, and will wish to Non-chemical pest control systems continue to do so. Perhaps it would have been better to have produced a reference book If you have any experiences, no matter how containing just the sections on minor, with pest control using freezing, Microlepidoptera identification. This would heating, freeze-drying, microwave or certainly have filled a much needed gap, and irradiation techniques, please send details could have been produced at a price that many to Steve Garland at Bolton Museum. Steve microlepidopterists could afford. will collate the returns and write a summary for the Newsletter which may form the basis To date, Volumes 1, 9 and 10 are available in of a future Group meeting. Include details hardback and paperback. Volumes 2 and 7 are of the pest species and type of specimen promised in 1987 while the others are being involved and the success or otherwise of the worked on and should be ready in due course. treatment. When finished, which I am sure all would hope will not be too far into the future, I am 155 The technique of removing minute and fragile specimens from alcohol with no distortion or appreciable colour loss by critical point In the Press drying is discussed in detail and seems to be much the best means of carrying out this The current issue of STUDIES IN difficult operation. The article also has a CONSERVATION (Vol 32 No 4) contains short bibliography of North American papers two articles of interest to biology curators on the same subject. although not specifically written for them. The first 'Protection of museum textiles and leather against the dermestid beetle by means The Society for the Preservation of Natural of antifccdunts', is by a Russian History Collections met at Red path Museum, conservator, GA Zaitseva, and gives an McGill University, Montreal in early June. account of experiments to determine which of Two small publications emanating from there a wide range of compounds are the most are A PRELJMINARY LIST OF CONSERVATION effective 'antifeedants' for the larvae of a RESOURCES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF range of dermestids. 'Antifeedant' is a new NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS produced by word for me, but it is defined as a substance the Conservation Committee of SPNHC which prevents a dermestid larva from feeding. and A LISTING OF PUBLICATIONS PERTINENT TO NATURAL HISTORY The 50 substances tested were derived from COLLECTIONS. Both are available from four chemical groups (details are in the Catherine Hawks and Caralyn Rose, US paper) wllieh included known repellants of National Museum of Natural History, blood-sucking insects. The test material was Smithsonian Institution, Washington, wool, soaked in various dilutions of the DC 20560, USA. chemicals, and conclusions are drawn on the most suitable chemical, its threshold value The UNESCO publication, MUSEUM, has in and the cl m•ation of effective protection. issue 154, a review of natural history exhibition development in regional museums in 'Carboxide' demonstrated a high antifeeclant France and a discussion of present and future activity combined with sufficient persistence trends in display. The whole question of to allow its consideration for practical 'permanence' being a desirable feature of any application. Jlut BEWARE, this is not the natural history exhibit is discussed as is highly toxie fumigant sold under the the integration of complementary media with 'earboxide' I.J•adc name in the UK and USA; more traditional forms of display. The paper in the \JSS!t, carboxide is the common name is called 'The vexed question of permanent for the imwd repellant hcxamethylene exhibitions in natural science museums in the carbamide. provinces'. The second al'ticle of interest is 'The potential long·-term effeets of gamma British Museum (Natural History) irradiation on paper' by Fiona But terfield, changes hands The inernaHinp; use of f.{nmma inadiation as a biocide in whnt miJ{ht bn called 'Sensitive' No, it's not been privatised! Yet. areas, liku hospital stl~l'ili;-:ation and food preservation ilns alm•ted sonw conservators to In July the Prime Minister announced her its possibln usl~ as a sin{{ll!-treatment decision to transfer responsibility for the pesticide foJ• infested lliUSl~Um objects. BM (NH) from the Secretary of State for Damage to Uw tPeated items seems to be the Eel uation and Science to the Arts Minister, primary en use for concl~rn and the extent and so it is now sponsored by the Office of nature of this damage apJWal's to be the main Arts and Libraries. line Of I'CSUIIJ'Uh, In her own words "Such a change will enable The nrtkll! in question sumnw1•ises the this world famous Museum to play its full effects of tr•eating various papers with part alongside the other great national IO K Cly f{lllllma radiation. The results indicate museums and galleries in the government's unacocptable levels of paper degredation - developing policies for the national specifically a decrease in meehanical heritage". strenJ:{th measured by fold enduJ•anee and tear resistanoc. You can read into that classic piece of political verbiage anything you want! What biologists need is some base-line data on the effects of this treatment on The transfer requires no change in the pay, biological specimens; there is an open field conditions and grading of current or future of researeh for someone - any takers? staff. As well as the BM (NH), the Minister for the Arts and OAL now has responsibility for the BM, Imperial War Museum, National A sho1•t article by Mike Wilson of the Gallery, National Maritime Museum, National Commonwealth Institute of Entomology should Portrait Gallery, Science Museum, Tate be read by any curator dealing with small Gallery, V &A, Wallace Collection and the insects w hi eh need to be dry mounted after Merseyside Museums. being preserved in alcohol: 'Removing Auchenorrhyncha from Alcohol using There will be no reduction in the planned Critical Point Drying' is in TYMBAL level of Government funding for the BM(NH) (Auchenorrhyncha Newsletter) no 4, 1984. as a consequence of the transfer. 156 rolls, producing labels 5" wide. We estimate that one roll (15" outer diameter, 3" core Techniques diameter, approx 33 lbs) produces approx 10, 000 labels on an average length of 3". Paper specifications for spirit For those of you who do not require ledger collection labels. weight paper, you may be interested to know that a large order of Byron Weston Resistall The following information arrived in the form Index 110 has recently been purchased by of a request from the Fishes Division of the Texas Tech University Press, PO Box 4240, Smithsonian in Washington who are trying to Lubbock, TX 79409; phone (806)742-2768 (ask enlist partners in a scheme to have for Lee Daniels or Dilford Carter). This manufactured a large batch of special paper paper has the same Resistall treatment as the they use (and have found to be the best over ledger paper, is also 100% cotton rag, but is years of testing) for labelling spirit of heavier weight. The index paper is used specimens. It is probably too late now for in the Mammal Division in the USNM for bone readers of the Newsletter to be included in and skin tags. The main drawback of this the purchase, but the note is printed here paper for catalog labels is it's bulk. It for the relevant technical information it apparently does not feed through laser contains. Samples are available from the printers and is a bit heavy for other Smithsonian. computer-generated paper labels. The Committee on Curatorial Supplies and Please respond to this query as soon as Practices, of the American Society of pdssible. If I have not heard from you by Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, has been September 18, I will assume you do not have researching label paper for use in alcoholic an immediate interest. specimen collections. Our consensus is that Bryon Weston Resistall Ledger no 36, which Susan L Jewett has been in use in the USNM's and other Chair collections for many years, is still the best ASIH Committee on Curatorial Supplies available considering all requirements and Practices (durability, longevity in alcohol, ability to c/o Division of Fishes, feed through a laser printer, takes ink and RM WG-12, NMNH pencil well, etc.). The paper is 100% cotton Smithsonian Institution rag and is specially manufactured to Wasnington DC 20560 incorporate the "Resistall" treatment, which USA allows it to withstand long-term storage in alcohol or other fluids. Since the paper is only manufactured to order, a special run by the paper mill is required to produce it. It appears that all remammg stock from previous runs, that had been stored at paper distributing companies, Subscription rates are £6.00 for· individual has been exhausted. Yet a number of museums membershi"p and £10.00 for institutional are urgently in need of a new supply of membership. Contact A dam Wright, Herbert paper. These facts have led to an effort by Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry, for this committee to initiate a joint purchase application forms. of paper from the Byron Weston Company. Les Knapp of the Smithsonian Oceanographic Published by the Biological Curators' Group. Sorting Center will be coordinating this The views expressed in the Newsletter do not activity. represent the opinion or policy of the 'Biological Curators' Group committee or Preliminary estimates indicate that the paper membership except where specifically stated. will cost approximately $198.00 per 100 lbs, with the additional costs for cutting, perforating and/or hole-punching for use with Edited by John Mathias, Leicestershire tractor feed devices. Museums Service, 96 New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TD (Tel: 0533 554100 ext. 3030) to whom all Please respond to the following questions if contributions should be sent. Back numbers you are interested in purchasing the paper: are available from the Editor. 1. Do you want the paper in sheet form, in Typed by Mrs Judy Marvin, Leicestershire continuous rolls, or both? If in cut Museums Service. Design consultant Miss sheets, what size? Do you want Angela Pope, Leicestershire Museums Service. continuous sheets with accordian folding? Printed by Leicestershire County Council's 2. What is the quantity you need (in terms Reprographic Unit, County Hall, Glenfield, of pounds)? [See below] Leicester. 3. How urgent is your need? © The Biology Curators' Group. To give you some idea of a weight to no-of-labels conversion factor, the U SNM ISSN 0144 - 588X Fish Division uses the paper in continuous 157